6 minutes ago, Dee-licious said:

Exactly. We talked so much about culture in the post-GF interviews and Melksham has this is spades. Wants to be best 22, works hard for the footy club off the field, and when he was playing for Casey he was playing his [censored] off. Understand the knocks about his two way running, but 2018 saw clutch goals and tagging JJ. He is more than better than depth and means that Spargo, ANB and TMac have to get better to hold their spots. He might even push Sparrow, Jordan and Harmes as well. Great problems to have :) 

Can't see how Spargo and Nibbler need to get better - they have been really good this year.

On 9/30/2021 at 10:52 AM, DeeSpencer said:

Higgins had a bad start to the year but he’s a very good footballer. The Saints gave up the equivalent of a pick right at the start of the second round for him. His finish to the year was very good.

Melkshams lack of tackling and pressure makes him more like a tall forward than competing with a small. And the Saints have King, Membrey, a second ruck and Sharman who really impressed. Plus can’t find room for Battle.

It’s very hard to know who’d want Melksham. Port being keen on Finlayson with Robbie Gray (plays tall) ageing could do with a bit of marking to go with their smalls and he fits their fast flowing ball movement. Melk always plays well against the Eagles and he’d be great with their kick mark game but they probably want to get younger. Freo need to bring in some mature players but aren’t in a rush and I doubt they are keen for a non defensive worker. Brisbane for 10 weeks of Hipwood insurance as the lead up 3rd tall?  

All good points.

Brisbane would be a good option actually. In the premiership window and he would vale add to their forward line. And Fagan would have the experience and gravitas to manage melk

55 minutes ago, faultydet said:

List management is above most people. Look at Collingwood and Gold Coast as examples.

Consider how hard it would be for our recruiters and list management team if we offloaded all of our fringe players at the same time. We then need to trade (we dont have the picks) or draft to replace all of those numbers on the list. We are then left with a big bunch of 18 year olds who are taken with late picks, who we then need to give 2 year deals to. And of course, zero depth if we suddenly have a run of injuries.

As much as I am not a fan of Melks lack of pressure, it will not kill us to keep him (and Hibbo) on for another year as backup.

 

edit: That first line is not a crack at you. It's merely a statement that even the pros can't get it right at times.

Free agency boosting the salary of top line players and teams getting smarter with leverage at trade time has absolutely made it trickier, plus the covid impact on the cap.

So I'm not so much complaining as just pointing out the reality that we've extended long deals to players to keep them happy and sticking around rather than potentially upping the money for less years.

22 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Melksham’s future and options 

Keep him?  
Handy experienced fringe 22 player, ready to go in case of injury.  Can play mid forward role as backup to Fritsch, Sparrow, Anb. Potential wing backup if he had a big pre season and injury free. One year left on contract. 
 

Accept trade offer? 
After his 2018, the extension to end 2022 was probably on $450k contract per year.  His contract update would be severely less and back to the $275k ish mark.  He might want to seek out a “risk taker” club that offers him 2-3 yr contract. Not sure which club would that brave/foolish? At 30, it’s unlikely given he is a med sized forward and there’s plenty of such players around.  
Dees would likely take a current or future 3rd round (pick range 50-55) exchange in a heartbeat. 

Option 1 wins out. I was unsure if he would have got interest at his price and his age at another club. He will be handy in 2022 and should push into best 22 if he can pickup the defensive pressure game needed. His good Goalkicking and footy smarts are proven. 

Not a lot of movement this year. By keeping Melksham, we know what we have got. 
Hopefully he gets some fire in his belly to  get a medal, like his team mates 

the lack of VFL Football has really impacted on this years trade

I see this providing a skill set for a particular scenario.

Melk still is one of the best field kicks we have and has a decent conversion rate on goal.

He isn't going to play 22 games a year, but the abovementioned abilities may be required on many an occasion next year. If he can add defensive pressure to his skill set, he will guarantee himself a regular spot (though I must stress this is unlikely considering his age).

Just read on Insta he’s staying.

plays a more difficult role than the likes of dunstan so gets judged far more harshly by all and sundry

played in 10 games this year for a 9-1 result for the reigning premiers

if we'd lost a neal-bullen or plugger mac during the run-in to the premiership, he may well have been next 'in'

5 hours ago, chook fowler said:

Can't see how Spargo and Nibbler need to get better - they have been really good this year.

but they could get worst, settle on one flag, content with their place in the side, not feeling any pressure from underneath and suddenly you're butler/higgins and out of the side and on the trade table or caddy rotting in the 2s or dan rioli and at HB, thats why we need melky around and others to hold the senior players accountable

With Jake staying, this thread becomes the first to move back to the general Demonland board. 

Nobody has seen famous anthropologist Margaret Mead and Melksham in the same room…….  Just saying.

A good result for us.

Given we don't have to make room (it seems) for a higher profile player to come in this trade period, it will be useful to keep our depth for another tilt at the 2022 flag. Melk & Weid, will get promised equal opportunities by Goody (if they work hard in the off season) and if we get a normal amount of injuries they become important for us again.

1 hour ago, Demons1858 said:

Given we don't have to make room (it seems) for a higher profile player to come in this trade period, it will be useful to keep our depth for another tilt at the 2022 flag. Melk & Weid, will get promised equal opportunities by Goody (if they work hard in the off season) and if we get a normal amount of injuries they become important for us again.

Agree, we only had a few injuries this year, so handy to have Melksham in player range 24-32 just on edge of selection as depth.

How many games has he played for the Demons?

1 hour ago, D4Life said:

Agree, we only had a few injuries this year, so handy to have Melksham in player range 24-32 just on edge of selection as depth.

How many games has he played for the Demons?

83 games with Dees. 114 at the Essen bummers 

Set to join 200 club in 2022 

26 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

83 games with Dees. 114 at the Essen bummers 

Set to join 200 club in 2022 

Long term planning by the club?

Get him to 100 and get a father daughter and/or father son selection in 20 years time

I’m happy he has stayed. He’s a quality player who provides good depth.

Like others his lack of pressure frustrates me. I always though tackling and pressure were attitude based. No reason why he can’t improve this area of his game. You would think the opportunity to win a flag would be the best possible attitude adjuster. It must burn seeing others with a pennant. We need competition to keep our best 22 honest so I’m hoping Melks has a road to Damacus like conversion and decides to work overtime on his defensive game. The right defensive mindset allied with his undoubted class and poise ball in hand makes him a serious weapon and have him knocking on the door of first team selection.

Over to you Melks

There are going to be some players that were on the border of selection that will have a fire burning under them to get involved. Melk, Hunt, Smith, Weid, and Tomlinson (missing because of injury) should all be backing themselves in to make a push for selection. 

Really happy Melksham is staying with us. 

On 10/4/2021 at 3:03 PM, DeeSpencer said:

Unsurprisingly no one wanted him. Hasn’t played well since 2018. Possibly another preseason trial on the wing. Otherwise break in case of emergency half forward.

Makes even less sense that we’re keeping M Brown as well now.

The clubs strategy of long term deals has helped spread the salary cap but has meant we’ve kept a lot of players 1 or 2 years passed their used by dates. 

Mitch Brown is an underated player. Is clever, puts himself in dangerous positions,he finds space, can mark and kick.I am not surprised at all with his retention.